Norden House

The land along Avenue Road was sold off in 1890, and Dr Thomas Vaisey became the first resident. Norden House (now the Norden House Surgery), which he commissioned, has a Grade 2 listing with the following description:

Grade II. House, surgery and service wing. 1891. By Ernest Newton for Dr. Vaisey. Red brick in English bond to ground floor, tile hung first floor. Hipped tile roof, brick chimneys. 2 storeys and attic, 4 bays, that to right gabled and projecting. Barred wooden casements, irregular 3-light to ground floor, 4-light to first floor with 2-light in second bay. Former to left with paired casement and cornice top. Entry to surgery in third bay has half-glazed door with flat wooden hood on shaped brackets and barred window to left. Service wing to left with garage and former 3 bays with canted bay windows flaking central half-glazed door with similar hood, 4-light casement to upper left, 2-light over door. Notable as an early work of Ernest Newton

The house was reported in The British Architect, 7 Aug 1891, 99:

HOUSE AT WINSLOW, BUCKS.
ERNEST NEWTON, ARCHITECT.
THIS house has been built by Messrs. Matthews Bros. for Dr. Vaisey, of Winslow. The materials are red brick and local red tiles. Mr. Ernest Newton, of 14, Hart Street, Bloomsbury Square, is the architect.

The drawing above accompanied this, and was also published in The Studio 17 (1899), 161 (image scan by George P. Landow, for The Victorian Web)

Ernest Newton (1856-1922) was a significant figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, and president of the Royal Institute of British Architects 1914-17. According to his ODNB entry, he combined "liveliness of elevation with a quiet dignity", "using traditional elements and materials but not designing in a way which copied any specific style". He was best known for houses in Kent and elsewhere in the South-East. Read more about him on the Chislehurst Society website. Norden House is no.XVIII in his A Book of Country Houses (London: Batsford, 1903), which includes the drawing above and a more detailed plan. Pevsner (Buckinghamshire, p.758) calls it "a simple early work".

Buckingham Advertiser, 13 Sep 1890: report of Board of Guardians' meeting
  DR. VAISEY’S NEW HOUSE.- It was reported that Mr. Vaisey in his letter to the Board respecting the footpath to his proposed new residence, stated that he intended to raise the footpath near the Workhouse garden, whereas it now appeared that he had sunk the footpath.  The Committee who had been previously appointed by the Board to report upon the footpath, and the sanitary arrangements of the new residence, and had done the same, now submitted a supplemental report as follows:-
  “The sub-committee having had their attention called to the footpath leading to Mr. Vaisey’s house, find that the labourers have taken away the earth below the foundations of the Union fence, thus endangering its stability- and they recommend that a letter be written to Mr. Vaisey, directing him to immediately have the path raised as high as before, so as to protect the foundations of the fence- and inform him that if any accident happen to the fence he (Mr. Vaisey) will be held responsible for making it good.”
It was unanimously resolved that as Mr. Vaisey had in the first instance stated that he intended to raise the footpath but instead had sunk it so as to detract from the foundations of the fence, a copy of the above report should be sent to him.

Buckingham Advertiser, 20 Sep 1890
  DR. VAISEY’S NEW HOUSE.-   A correspondent sends us the following:- In your account of the meeting of the Winslow Board of Guardians last week, you publish the report of the sub-committee relative to the foot-path to Mr. Vaisey’s new house.  Anyone knowing the facts will readily see that the objections raised are worse than frivolous; they are really ridiculous.  This road which the Board of Guardians are suddenly seized with a fit to so religiously protect, has for years past been a disgrace to this part of the town, and the “fence” that is to be “damaged” by Mr. Vaisey’s action, has for a long time been a great disfigurement to the Street.  Mr. Vaisey has removed the accumulated filth of years, and this, forsooth, he is to be “allowed” to do.  There is something wrong in the fact that if a man of public spirit, wishes to make an improvement in his town, he is to be thwarted by such petty obstruction.

Bucks Herald, 21 March 1891

WORKMEN'S DINNER. On Tuesday evening last Mr. and Mrs. Vaisey entertained to a substantial dinner Messrs. W. and R. Matthews, and their employés, to the number of 40, who had taken part in erecting their new residence, "Nordens." Mr. Vaisey occupied the chair and Mr W. Matthews the vice-chair. At the conclusion of the repast a most enjoyable evening was spent in singing, & c., the principal items in the toast list being "The health of Mr. T.F. Vaisey and Mrs. Vaisey," and "Success to the firm of W. and R. Matthews," both of which were enthusiastically honoured and suitably responded to.

Dr Vaisey came to Winslow in about 1882 from the Buckinghamshire Infirmary (later the Royal Bucks Hospital), where he must have met his wife, who is listed there as a friend of the matron in the 1881 Census. In Kelly's Directory of 1887 he is described as "surgeon & medical officer & public vaccinator 1st district, med. off. workho. & med. off. of health rural sanitary authority & deputy supt. registrar of births, deaths & marriages, Winslow Union, Buckingham road". He took over the surgery furniture and fittings of Dr Newham of Western Cottage, who died in 1890 (Centre for Bucks Studies D/WIG/2/1/23, pp.91, 108), and went into partnership with Dr Kennish (who lived at The Cottage, Horn Street). One of their bills can be seen on the right.

1891 Census
Norden House

Thomas Frederick	Vaisey	Head	married	34	General Practitioner	b. Daglingworth, Gloucs
Lucy Hellicar	Vaisey	Wife	m	32		b. Hinton, Somerset
Charles T.H.	Vaisey	Son		5		b. Winslow
Muriel Margaret	Vaisey	Dau		3		do
Norman C.	Vaisey	Son		1		do
Norah L.	Vaisey	Dau		8 mo		do
Charles Edward	Vaisey	Father	married	62		b. Stratton, Gloucs
Elizabeth	Vaisey	Mother	do	54		b. Culberton, Gloucs
Ruby Alice S.	Henderson	Niece		5		b. Clapham
Ellen Ada	Illing	Servant	single	16	Housemaid domestic	b. Little Horwood
Florence	Fenemore	do	do	16	Cook domestic	b. Thornton
Edith	Whitehead	do	do	21	Nurse domestic	b. Westbury

1901 Census
The Norden

Thomas Frederick	Vaisey	Head	married	45	General Medical Practitioner	b. Daglingworth, Gloucs
Lucy Hellicar	do	Wife	m	43		b. Hinton Charterhouse, Somerset
Muriel Margaret	do	Dau	s	13		b. Winslow
Nora Lucy	do	Dau		10		do
Eric Roby	do	Son		9		do
Daisy	Keen	Servant	s	19	Cook (domestic)	b. Longwick, Bucks
Florence Emily	Sirett	Servant	s	19	Housemaid (domestic)	b. Piddington, Brill

Mrs Vaisey's father Joseph Hinton, a retired doctor, died aged 84 at Norden House on 26 July 1906. He was described as "late of Warminster and Batheaston".

1911 Census
Norden House, 10 rooms

Thomas Frederick	Vaisey	Head	married	55	Surgeon, Coroner & c.	b. Daglingworth, Gloucs
Lucy Hellicar	Vaisey	Wife	married,	53	5 children	b. Hinton, Wilts
Muriel Margaret	Vaisey	Dau	single	23		b. Winslow
Cedric Norman	Vaisey	Son	single	21	Medical Student	b. Winslow
Nora Lucy	Vaisey	Dau	single	20		do
Eric Roby	Vaisey	Son	single	19	Apprentice Engineer	do
Florence	Berry	Servant	single	26	Housemaid (domestic)	b. Cropredy, Oxon
Emma	Townsend	Servant	single	23	Cook (domestic)	b. Appleton, Berks

1914: Assessment (TNA, IR58/2348 no.292)
Situation              Avenue Road
Description         House, Stables & Surgery
Extent                   Ac 0 – 1 - 0
Gross Value: Buildings   £58         Rateable Value: Buildings             £49 - 10
Occupier & Owner         Dr T.F. Vaisey
Interest of Owner            Freehold
Estimated Rent                 £60
[Red stamp]       ON FORM 87      [Red stamp] 30 NOV 1914
Includes 293       Particulars, description and note made on inspection     
Brick & Slate house
6 bedrooms & bathroom & W.C.
Hall, surgery & kitchen, back kitchen, pantry
3 reception rooms
Brick & Slate stable (3) stalls Coach house now used as garage
                                                                                                1 : 2 : 24
Valuation – Market Value of Fee Simple in possession of whole property in its present condition            £1390
Deduct Market Value of Site under similar circumstances, but if divested of structures, timber, fruit trees, and other things growing on the land               See over                                                              £450
Difference Balance, being portion of market value attributable to structures, timber &c.                £940
GROSS VALUE                                                                                                                               £1390
Description of Buildings
Consulting Room
Waiting Room
Surgery
350 ft frontage to Park Rd @ 17/6 = £305
Deferred 10 yrs @ 5%    =            187
130 ft frontage to Avenue Rd @ £2 =       260            447      Say 450

The Vaiseys' eldest son Charles, who had emigrated to Australia, was a First World War casualty. There are some letters about him on the Keep The Home Fires Burning website. He was in the Royal Flying Corps and is commemorated in the Church (his name is incorrectly written as Vasey on the War Memorial):

Bucks Herald, 14 Aug 1920

NORDEN HOUSE, WINSLOW
Messrs. GEO. WIGLEY & SONS
Are instructed by Dr. Vaisey (who is leaving the district)
TO SELL BY AUCTION,
On FRIDAY, AUGUST 27th, 1920, at One o'clock exact time.
Excellent HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, Including
BEDSTEADS in sizes, Bedding, Chests of Drawers, Mahogany Washstands, Dressing Chests, Mahogany Break front WARDROBE, Gentleman's painted Wardrobe, Toilet Ware, old oak Coffer, Antique mahogany Writing Table,
A SET of FOUR Carved Oak High-back CHAIRS, Antique Mahogany DINING TABLE, Six Antique DINING CHAIRS,
Handsome carved oak Overmantel, antique high-back Chair, two inlaid walnut China Cabinets, Easy and Occasional Chairs,
6½-octave Iron-frame PIANOFORTE, by Hauke,
Seamless Axminster, Roman and Brussels Carpets; Curtains and Pictures; handsome Sheffield-plated double-branch Candelabra, Cake Basket, and other Electro Plate and Cutlery; Table Glass; Tea Service; Copper Fish Kettle and other Copper Utensils; Kitchen Table and Sundry Domestic Items; Garden Roller, Lawn Mower, "Swift" Gentleman's Bicylce; 9 Head of Poultry, Intensive Poultry House, Coops, Cold Brooder and numerous outside and other Effects.
On view morning of Sale. Catalogues of the Auctioneers.

Centre for Bucks Studies D/WIG/2/1/72 (May-Oct 1920): Inventory and valuation of Norden House, Dr Vaisey to Dr Leapingwell.

Kelly's Directory 1924

Leapingwell, Arthur Edward, M.R.C.S.Eng., L.R.C.P. Lond. physician & surgeon, & medical officer & public vaccinator 2nd district & medical officer of Winslow union & medical officer of health to Winslow Rural District Council & certifying factory surgeon for the Northern division of Bucks, Norden house, Avenue road. T(elephone) N(umber) 15

One of Dr Leapingwell's bills, from 1931, is shown on the right.

Bath Chronicle, 6 April 1929

The death occurred on Tuesday, after a short illness, of Mr. Thomas Frederick Vaisey, M.R.C.S, L.R.C.P., of Norden Cottage, Combe Down. Mr. Vaisey was in medical practice at Winslow, Bucks, for 40 years. He had been living in retirement at Bath for the past eight years. He leaves a widow, two sons and two daughters. The funeral took place on Friday, the first part of the service being at Southstoke Church.

Mrs Vaisey died at Bath in 1953, aged 95.

Thanks to Ed Grimsdale for some of the information on this page.